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MoWD will, ask feds to allot farms less water http://WWW.umontribune.comlnews/unlOntTIb/weQlneWS/news _ J n I-,water.nrrnl . MWD will ask feds to allot farms less water By P.B. Ferguson ASSOCIATED PRESS January 13, 1999 LOS ANGELES -- In a move that could pit city dwellers against , farmers, the Metropolitan Water District yesterday decided to ask the federal government to rethink the way Southern Californians share Colorado River water. . I The U.S. Department of the Interior acts as the go-between for seven California water agencies that rely on the river. The MWD board of directors resolved to ask U.S. Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt to reconsider a 1931 agreement that gave a large portion of California's river water share to agriculture. No deadline was set, however. . The 1931 agreement is the backbone of Southern California's current water-sharing deal. . "This is like trying to change the Constitution," said Christine Fralun, I' who represents San Diego on the MWD. , California is among several states that share Colorado River water. It is i allotted 4.4 million acre-feet a year but draws as much as 5.2 million I acre-feet. . An acre-foot is nearly 326,000 gallons of water, or the amount used by about two households annually. Other states and the federal government have been pressing California to I start living within its allocation, said Bob Gomperz, an MWD , spokesman. I Most of California's water is used on farms, with rural Imperial County I I sluicing off as much as 3.1 rnillion acre-feet. The MWD -- concerned ' because Southern California's urban population is expected to nearly ! I double by 2020 - wants to pressure farms to use their water more efficiently, Gornperz said. II The MWD's 27 member public agencies provide nearly 60 percent of the I water used by nearly 16 rnillion people living in portions of San Diego, Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. I lof2 1/13/998:09 AM